Published Bi-Monthly by the Hudson-Hohawh Bird Dub
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Vol. 58 february TVo.l 1996 Published Bi-monthly by The Hudson-Hohawh Bird dub BLuEbind PLates Arrjve \h NYS DEC CoMMissioNER REcoqNizES HMBC at UNVEiliNq of BluEbind Ucense PUte On Dec. 6, 1995, the HMBC was very privileged to have been invited to the state's official unveiling of the Bluebird License Plates. The distinctive plate features the Eastern Bluebird, New York's official bird, lovingly designed by Roger Tory Peterson, the internationally famous birder, naturalist, artist and native New Yorker. At the December 6 event with Parks, Motor Vehicle and DEC Commissioners, Mr. Zagata acknowledged HMBC president, Frank Murphy, and past president, Scott Stoner. New York State's Legislature authorized the conservation license plate in the 1993 Environmen tal Protection Act which also established a state Environmental Protection Fund. Twenty-five dollars from the sale of every bluebird plate goes directly into the Fund to be used exclusively for the vital projects listed in the state Open Space Conservation Plan. Expenditures from the Fund already have helped conserve such important and beautiful areas .. mere en next page To order your bluebird plate, call 1-800- 364-PLATES from 8 AM to 8 PM seven Inside tMs days a week or visit a local DMV office. The exquisite new license plates will Campership Announcement arrive quickly in the mail. The plates can be ordered at any time without affecting Birding the Mohawk River the registrant's renewal date. The initial cost of a standard bluebird plate is $39.50 Federation Membership Drive and which includes the $25. annual fee dedi Book Offer cated to open space conservation and the one-time processing fees. Personalized Upcoming HMBC Field Trips and plates of up to six characters also are Programs - Including Annual Meeting available for an initial cost of $68. Per and Dinner sonalized plates carry a $50. annual re newal fee, $25. of which is dedicated to open space conservation. V58Ni Feathers Page 2 as undeveloped portions of shorelines on Lake George and Lake Champlain which contain significant ecosystems and exquisite panoramas; the Albany Pine Bush which Patches???? contains rare and endangered ecosystems, and the Long Island Pine Barrens which The Club is trying to determine the protect Long Island ground water supplies. number of patches still available. If you have a supply of patches, please Proceeds from the sale of the bluebird plate contact Ann B'Rells at 355-5615. will benefit other projects listed in New York's Open Space Plan, including key lands protect ing the quality of our public water supplies; magnificent Adirondack and Catskill forests; essential habitat for endangered species; additional parks in densely populated urban areas and increased access to state lands and shorelines for hiking, bird watching, hunting and fishing. For more information about the bluebird plate, call 1-800-364-PLATES. For more information about the Open Space Plan and Environmen tal Projection Fund write to: Open Space Plan, Editor's Note: Due to technical difficulties we are NYS DEC, 50 Wolf Road, Room 611, Albany, unable to use the picture of Frank and Scott with a sample plate. Our apologies! NY 12233-1040. Birdline There have been a few changes to Birdline. The goal in the past year was to change voices every three months. Many thanks to our current voice, Bill Lee, and to those who preceded him: Jeff Marx, Rich Guthrie, and Frank Murphy. Starting March 1 we are looking forward to having Dick Beeler reporting. There is also a new Birline Committee consisting of Lou Esch, Chairman, and Jackie Bogardus, Jane Graves, Barb Putnam, and Gregg Recer. The main objective of the committee will be to improve and upgrade the service of Birdline. Eventually we hope to get the service Online for all the computer nerds out there. If anyone ever has any comments or suggestions regarding Birdline please contact one of the above or the Club president. Or you could always leave amessage after the beep! Feathers V58N1 Page 3 AwARds AvAiUblE to MEMbER Clubs This year's meeting will be Sept. 6-8 in The Federation of New York State Bird Clubs Albany and is sponsored by the Hudson- provides funds for two awards and the Eaton Mohawk Bird Club. Birding Society provides funds for a third award. These are: The Lillian Stoner Award Nominations of students, even if the Federa for an outstanding college student of high tion cannot fund all of them, reward young school senior; The Elon Howard Eaton people for their interest in birds, and provide Memorial Award for contribution to New York incentive for them to become involved in club Ornithology; and The Member Club Grant and Federation activities. for support of small projects. We hope you will announce these awards to your club Deadline: Nominations must be received by members and submit nominations. July 15. Later nominations may not be re viewed, since after July 17, I will be accessi If you know of someone who qualifies for one ble only by canoe in northern Canada. of these awards, please contact an HMBC board member or officer, so an application for Please send nominations to: the award can be made with the Federation. Lillian Stoner Scholarship The Lillian Stoner Award c/o Dr. John L. Confer Biology Department The Federation of New York State Bird Clubs Ithaca College sponsors a scholarship to our annual Ithaca, NY 14850 meeting. This helps pay the expenses for a high school senior or college student whose The Member Club Grant nomination is submitted by a member club. This is a wonderful way to introduce a young The Federation of New York State Bird Clubs person to the activities of the Federation. is committed to facilitating the work of its This fund was initiated by a bequest from member clubs as much as possible. To that Lillian Stoner, and has been enhanced by end, the Federation's Executive Committee several subsequent donations from has adopted a policy of offering modest individuals and member clubs. The fund can grants (usually less than $100.) to help now provide at least $100. to the winning defray costs associated with research student. projects sponsored by clubs. In the past, grants have been awarded for purchases of Member clubs must submit a letter describing equipment related to club projects (e.g., mist the credentials for each nominee. Also, it is nets). Support also can be provided for very helpful if the nominated student submits printing of local or regional New York a biographical letter. In some years several checklists of birds. Other kinds of projects deserving students are nominated. Unfortu may qualify for assistance, as well, though nately funds do not always permit support for assistance is not provided for purchase of all nominees and the personal letter can be land or maintenance of buildings. decisive. Vs8Ni Page 4 Feathers Applications for support should include a ECOS Cross-Country Ski brief description of the project, products to be produced by the project (e.g., printed ECOS will be sponsoring their popular Cross checklists), and a statement of how much Country Ski Trip. There will be thirteen funding is needed and for what purpose the outings, Tuesday mornings from Jan 2 through funds will be used relative to the overall Mar 26. Call the ECOS office at 370-4125 for project budget. Three printed pages (or more information or to request a schedule with less) should cover these items adequately. directions to the areas. Awards will be made at the Annual Meeting of the Federation. Send applications, post Feb 6 - Thacher State Park marked no later than 1 September 1996 to: Feb 13 - Saratoga Battlefield Feb 20 - Featherstonhaugh State Forest Charles R. Smith Feb 27 - Schenectady Municipal Golf Course Department of Natural Resources Mar 5 - Pharaoh Lake (ALL DAY TRIP) Fenow Hall Mar 12 - Grafton Lakes State Park Cornell University Mar 19 - Moreau State Park Ithaca, NY 14853-3001 Mar 26 - Leaders' Choice Elon Howard Eaton Memorial Award Welcome Recent New Members This award is sponsored by the Eaton Bird- ing Society of Geneva. Elon Howard Eaton Cecila Cerra was one of the giants of early ornithology Justin D'Allessandro and made major contributions especially to Patrick & Alison Molumby New York Ornithology and is the namesake John L. & John F. Polnak for both the club and this award. Initiated Jeffrey Scherer last year, the award has been the project of Timothy Caulfield the Eaton Birding Society and is presented David Hudda in conjunction with the Federation of New Sue Kaczok & John Wuthrich York State Bird Clubs at its annual meeting. Shirley Brady Mr. & Mrs. Douglas Erickson For further information, please contact: Anne Fortune & William Reid Eaton Birding Society Jeff Kimble PO Box 928 Dan Leonard Geneva, NY 14456 Joan McKiever Jody Rose Judy Schultz Laura Schatzel & Robert Mainusch Mary Stokes Gloria Wiener Donna Zimmerman Feathers V58N1 Page s FEderation oF NYS BiRd Club Announces Book OFFer ANd MEtvibERship Drjve The Federation of New York State Bird Clubs The next annual meeting will be held in Al is New York's ornithological society-its State bany and hosted by the Hudson-Mohawk Bird bird club. It is comprised of individual mem Club on September 6-8, 1996. The theme of bers as well as more than 40 bird clubs and the meeting is Migration. Our Saturday ban Audubon chapters throughout the State. quet speaker will be Jack Connor, author of The Complete Birder and A Season at the We're conducting this campaign to alert Point. Friday evening will feature renowned active New York birders such as yourself of author and identification expert, Claudia our activities, and to invite you to join us.